//------------------------------// // Holy Tales of Shoots and Vines // Story: Ynanhluutr // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// “Hmmmm...” Rainbow stirred. “...mrmmmfff...” Rainbow's muzzle tensed. “Grff... mmm... my wings...” She writhed, shook, and shrieked. “My wings...!” Her eyes flew open, and she shot up with a gasp. “...the Elements!” Panting, she glanced left and right. “Girls, I... I-I think I found...!” Dead silence. Rainbow blinked, suddenly squinting at bright sunlight glinting off the waters of the Quade below. Across the platform full of lean-to's beneath her, a group of ghostly mares stared back. Twilight Sparkle and Rarity were frozen in a worried stupor. Pinkie, meantime, waved and sang: “Morning Dashie! Ya frazzled sleepyhead! Heehee!” “You're...” Rainbow gulped, panted, and shuddered. “I-I mean I'm not...” She grimaced, feeling the weight of her Element with her hoof. A dull exhale limped out of her deflating lungs. “Darn it...” “Rainbow, darling?” Rarity smiled nervously. “Are you quite alright?” “Yeah, just...” Rainbow stirred where she sat. “Probably something I ate last night.” “You had those ocean mangos half-a-day ago,” Twilight insisted. She arched an eyebrow. “I'd think you would be dealing with that much sooner if that was the problem.” “Guys, there's no problem.” “Are you certain of that?” Rarity asked. “You were... writhing and shivering in your sleep for quite some time. We... erm... actually tried waking you much earlier... b-but we gave up about an hour ago.” “An hour?” “Mmmhmmm.” “I don't see what you two are so worried about!” Pinkie cartwheeled over to Rainbow's side. “Dashie was probably just sleepcersising!” She giggle-snorted. “I used to do it all the time back in Ponyville! Gave Gummy the cramps!” She blinked. “Of course, it was his fault for sleeping on my flank.” “I just... gnngh...” Rainbow stood up, aching and wincing from her stiff limbs. “...got a lot on my mind, I guess.” “Well, no doubt,” Twilight said with a nod. “But that's the second time in so few days that you've woken up from a fitful nightmare.” “It wasn't a nightmare.” “Well?” Twilight folded her forelimbs, frowning. “Just what was it?” “Chillax, egghead! I said I'm fine and I meant—” Rainbow froze in place. She glanced left and right, then blinked. “Wait. Where're the Desperadoes?” Thwifft!—swiiiiiiiiiiish—TH-THUNK! A metal barb flew across the floating platform atop the waters of the Quade and embedded into a wooden post. Galloran lowered his crossbow, exhaling. He smiled back at Bard and Wildcard. Both of the Desperadoes were applauding. “Whew-wee!” Bard whistled. “That's some fancy aim ya got there, slick!” “I'm glad you think so,” Galloran said with a slight shudder. He slicked his mane back, then strolled over to the post. “Menthe never applauds anymore. He's constantly telling me to 'practice more.' And so, I say 'Look at that shot, though! It's perfect!' And that's when he says 'Be better than perfect!'” Wildcard smirks, folding his arms. “Ehhhh... I'm sure he's only teasin' ya,” Bard said, waving a hoof. “After all, it's his job to make sure you get good at everythang you do.” He shrugged. “From the looks of thangs, you might even be replacin' the old stallion someday.” “Ohhhhh n-no...” Galloran shuddered. Plink! He yanked the crossbolt out of the splintered post and twirled it in his grasp. “I could never replace Menthe.” “But you have no intention of goin' elsewhere, right?” “Can't say that I do.” “Then somepony's gotta replace someone,” Bard said. “I mean... no one lives forever.” Galloran winced. “That's... not something that I like to think of often.” “Still, it helps to be prepared.” “I suppose.” Galloran examined his crossbow closely, wings coiled. “Menthe is like a father to me. But there are times when I feel as if...” He shifted slightly where he stood. “...almost as if he's just s tringent as Kyron and the other monks running this place.” The Desperadoes stared in silence. Galloran looked up. “Some ponies strive so hard to be perfect that... it's hard to imagine them ever dying.” He gulped. “I think the monks here depend on each other more than they're willing to admit. And all of that meditating they do? I bet it's the one thing that lets them forget the fact that someday Kyron's going to pass away... and then what? He'll be replaced by Sonikah... or Nicro...” He clenched his teeth. “...or even Antsan.” “Shoot... lots of ponies dun take kindly to that last one, huh?” Bard remarked, adjusting his hat. “Eh...” Galloran shrugged. “He's just so... enthusiastic. It even puts me off. Doesn't help that he's so young that he even showed up after I did.” “Heh...” Bard chuckled. “Heheheheheh...” He chuckled some more. Galloran squinted. “What's so funny?” “I'm just gettin' the funny feelin' that you dun have many ponies to share yer thoughts with like this...” Galloran opened his mouth, then faltered. Ears folding back, he glanced guiltily behind his shoulder. “I... d-don't. I mean, I prefer it this way... living out here amidst the Quade. Most of Rohbredden disgusts me... no offense.” “None taken,” Bard said with a smirk. “Dubya-Cee and I have been known to lose our collective lunches on more than one occasion. But mostly Dubya-Cee, bein' half bird and half cat, y'know.” Wildcard rolled his goggled eyes. “A lot of the time, just to put my mind at ease, I find myself practicing the crossbow like right now,” Galloran said, adjusting the strings and springs of the tool. “Just holding it used to make me a nervous wreck. When I first volunteered to be a protector here, it was the only weapon I told Menthe I was willing to use.” “Never mind Menthe. Sounds like you would make the better Luminard, fella.” “Hehehehe... nahhh...” Galloran gulped. “I care for each and every one of these devout ponies. Being who am I... doing what I've pledged to do...” He shrugged. “It's the only way I'm certain I can keep them all safe.” Wildcard gestured. “Good point, Dubya,” Bard remarked, nodding. Galloran looked up. “What'd he say?” “My buddy here's an observant type,” Bard said. He pointed at the tip of Galloran's weapon. “That there crossbolt... it's got an awful lot of nicks and scrapes on it.” “Well... yeah.” “Reckon you've fired it a ton of times before.” “Er...” Galloran bit his lip. Waters lapped around the wooden platform around them. “I guess that's true. I... uh... only have five.” “Five what?” “Crossbolts,” he explained. Bard blinked. “That's all you have to load that thang with?” “Uh huh. And each barb was forged a long, long time ago. This thing's probably older than me... eheh...” “Shucks. No wonder you're so good a shot!” Bard smirked. “You kinda have to be!” “Well... yeah!” Galloran chuckled. “I think that goes without saying!” Wildcard gestured. Bard looked from him to the young stallion. “You ever have to... use that on somepony before?” Galloran bit his lip. Bard cocked his head to the side. “Sore subject?” “No... it's just that...” Galloran fidgeted. “I've never had to drive somepony off. Ever.” “Nopony ever tried robbin' or attackin' these Luminards?” Bard arched an eyebrow. “Not even once?” “Ohhhh... uh... s-sure!” Galloran gulped. “Privateers... scumbags from Mudtop or Red Barge... coral smokers...” He shrugged. “But each time, Menthe drew them away. It was... either b-before my time, or the punks just never got deep enough into the Quade for me to have to contend with. All things considered, we've been... trouble-free for months... years... for about as long as I can remember.” “Heh... bet that's a good feeling.” “I dunno...” “You dunno?” “I... could stand to feel a bit more useful,” Galloran muttered, gazing down at his hooves. “These Luminards have given so much... and then they have very little left that they haven't yet sacrificed. I'm always in awe of them, and I wanna give my all to making sure they achieve the enlightenment that they strive for. But I can't shake the feeling that—day after day—they outshine the likes of Menthe and me. I... sometimes think that they don't even need us at all.” “Now, I wouldn't say that,” Bard remarked, smiling. “I reckon they're tickled pink to have the likes of you and Menthe around.” “Why?” Galloran snorted. “So they can witness the 'worldly sin' they've left behind?” “Menthe said that there was somethin' in their scripture that raised protectors like you to a sanctified level.” Bard winked. “I think—by just bein' around them—yer givin' them justification for what they do and who they are.” Wildcard's talons signed in the air. Bard nodded. “And... y'know... without concrete evidence for anythang outside of the sheer feelin' of enlightenment, somethin' as real as you and Menthe... must really make them feel secure.” “Wow...” Galloran blinked. “I... never thought of it that way before.” “But I bet ya felt it, didn't ya?” Bard slapped a hoof over his own chest. “Right here.” Galloran said nothing. Wildcard looked at Bard. He waved, then hand-signed dramatically in the air. Bard blinked. “Really?” He blinked again. “Ya dun think that'll freak 'em out?” “Uhhhhh...” Galloran squinted. “Freak who out?” Wildcard signed some more, smirking under his beak. “Heh... well alright.” Bard turned towards Galloran. “Wanna see a trick?” “Uhm... s-sure!” Bard pointed. “Take another shot at that post right there.” “Uhm... why?” “Just do it, and you'll see.” Bard folded his forelimbs. “I promise we ain't gonna hurt nopony or nothin'.” “Uhhh...” Galloran shrugged. “Okay.” He cocked the crossbow, took aim, and fired. Thwifft! Within a blink— Swooooooooosh! A black figure mirked by. Galloran's eyes twitched. He stood back, muzzle agape, staring at the completely empty wooden post. “My... my crossbolt!” his voice cracked. “Where did it go?” Bard whistled. He pointed across the dock. Galloran turned to look. Wildcard stood on the other end of the platform, his wings coiling. Exhaling, the griffon held out his metal limb. The talons opened, revealing the crossbolt neatly held in his palm. “No way...” Galloran nearly dropped the crossbow. “You... you caught it in midair?!” “Darn tootin'!” “That's amazing!” Wildcard smirked and leisurely tossed the barb in Galloran's direction. Galloran caught it nimbly. “Wow... that's the fastest I've seen anyone move... ever!” “Yeah... heheh... well...” Bard adjusted his cap. “We've both seen faster. Ain't that right, Dubya?” Wildcard sighed, but eventually nodded with a weathered smile. “Verlaxion's Sleet...” Galloran exhaled, cocking the barb back into place. “With speed like that, I bet you two could easily have robbed Menthe blind by now—!” He instantly winced at his own words. “Uhhhhh...” He waved a hoof. “That... th-that doesn't mean what it sounded like it meant! Honest!” “Dun worry, buddy,” Bard said, nodding. “It's understandable for ya to be concerned. After all, there're lots of disgustin' varmints all across the seas.” “Yeah, but you guys are nothing like them!” “Mmmm... on occasion, we very dayum-well resembled the creeps,” Bard said in a low voice. “But Dubya and I? We Desperadoes have a code of honor to follow, and there ain't gettin' off this train we're on.” “Huh?” Wildcard slapped the back of Bard's head. Bard winced, chuckling. “Eheheh... let's just say that we're both stubborn to a fault. We only do bounties on no-good cretins who deserve to be turned in for their crimes. We dun ever take contracts that single out innocent ponies or exploit families, even if it means us earnin' less gold to live off of.” “That... can't be easy,” Galloran said. “Nope. It sure ain't. But... as of late... we've been reinforced mighty hard in our resolve. I'd say we're more set on the straight and narrow than we've ever been.” “Huh...” Galloran smiled. “Just what changed, exactly?” “Ohhhhh...” Bard shrugged, smirking. “A dash here and there...” Swoooooooosh! Four hooves landed in the midst of the group. “Speakin' of the fuzzy blue...” Bard turned and cleared his throat. “Good mornin', darlin'.” He and Wildcard both flinched. “Whoah dayum! Did you roll over a porcupine last night or somethin'?” “Mrmmmfff...” Rainbow blearily responded, teetering beneath a frazzled mess of mane hair. “I don't want to talk about it.” Wildcard gestured. “Heh...” Bard tipped his hat. “Reckon ya haven't been exercisin' in yer sleep?” Pinkie Pie burst out of Rainbow's side. “That's what I said!” Twilight shoved Pinkie Pie back, then hovered up, clearing her throat. “Rainbow, ask him.” “Yes.” Rarity nodded. “The sooner we get to the bottom of Yaerfaerda, the better.” “Uhhh...” Galloran glanced left and right. “Who are you looking at, Miss Dash?” Rainbow blinked. Bard and Wildcard silently glanced at one another. “Don't mind me,” Rainbow muttered. “Just had a hard time sleeping last night and...” She squinted at the wooden post on the edge of the docks—completely riddled with holes. “...target practice?” “Eheheh...” Galloran shrugged, gesturing at the crossbow. “Colts will be colts.” “Why practice all the way down here where the water is?” “You kidding?!” Galloran suddenly gasped. “I couldn't possibly fire this thing at random up along the platforms!” “Why not?” Rainbow murmured. “Afraid you might hit the pilgrims?” “Even worse! I might hit the Reed!” “Yeah, so?” Galloran looked like he was about to vomit. He recovered from the shock in time to stammer: “You... really haven't spoken to Kyron much, have you?” “Well, I would like to,” Rainbow said. “I... uhhhh...” She gulped. “Would like to know more about the Reed. Lots and lots about it.” “Well...” Galloran managed a smile. “...how about I take you to him and you could ask him yourself?” “Indeed.” Rarity held a hoof up, grinning. “And while we're at it, could we find a way to inquire about a fashion upgrade to the sackcloth around here?” A swath of violet tail-hairs whacked her in the face. Rarity remained frozen, grinning. “Never mind!” Under flickering candle-light, a pair of hooves opened an ancient oak chest. The hinges creaked as the container was exposed, its swinging doors revealing a series of scrolls propped up against the interior within. Grasping one of the scrolls, Sonikah carried it across the dimly-lit room and laid it across a table. She carefully unwraveled the contents, exposing a rich tapestry that looked like a combination of maps and a story told in pictographs. “Thank you most kindly, Sonikah,” Kyron said with a bow. “It is my pleasure, elder,” Sonikah said. With a humble smile, she backtrotted from the table. Shuffling over, Kyron stood beside the table and pointed at the outline of a continent crumbling in half, its smaller parts being absorbed into the sea. “Eons ago... when the Frozen Blight was at its strongest... the kingdom of Luminar fell into shadow. The ponies living there had denied the grace of Verlaxion. Our righteous Goddess extended the gifts of wisdom, salvation, and peace of communion with the stubborn natives, but they ignored her... spitting in the face of her divine generosity. Far too addicted to the pleasures and frivolties of this world, the residents of Luminar embraced the superficial elements that gave them a false sense of contentment. Thus, when Luminar suffered its Plight, they were all swallowed up by the sea, their sins forever binding them to the frozen depths.” Kyron's hoof hovered over a series of jagged lines seemingly growing out of the ocean. “But from the graveyard of apostate souls, a miracle bloomed. While most of Luminar was death and desolation—a landscape where very little life could grow and few ponies dared to tread—something that couldn't feasibly have thrived did so... and abundantly. The Reed was first discovered by the first devout clerics of Verlaxion, pilgrims humble enough and courageous enough to carry the glory of our saving Goddess back west across the thawing seas in hopes that they might find survivors of the Plight and rescue them from eternal perdition. While they didn't find any descendants of Luminar, they did find the Reed.” Next on the tapestry, the shoots grew taller, scaling impossible heights while equine shapes knelt and prayed in tight circles around it. “No living pony had seen anything quite like it. The shallow waters of the Quade consisted of nothing but crumbled rocks and eroded stone beneath the surfce. There was no remaining soil in the seabed that could possibly give root to any plant—not kelp, not sawgrass, not even the most extreme weed. And yet, despite all of these impossibilities, the Reed grew... and it grew at an astounding rate. It couldn't have possibly been anything but a sheer miracle. So, in meditating upon this, the first founding pilgrims were enlightened by Verlaxion's glory.” Kyron smiled, gazing across the room as he breathed richly through his words. “The Plight of Luminar is both a warning and a blessing. As a warning, it teaches us how to avoid damaging more of this fragile world with our sin and attachments. As a blessing, it shows us that peace and prosperity can be achieved in the most unlikely of places. By guarding the Reed, we are guarding ourselves... and preserving the blessed enlightenment of Verlaxion so that it can be found by all who are called by the Quade... so they too may achieve salvation and commune with the glory of our Goddess.” Rainbow nodded, standing across the table from him. With a gulp, she asked, “So... uh... why guard it?” “Hmmm?” Kyron cocked his head to the side. “The Reed,” Rainbow said. She pointed at the tapestry. “If it's such an immaculate blessing and such... why do you have to keep such a close eye on it?” “Verlaxion's blessing is a magnificent one,” Kyron said with a smile. “And yet its presence in this world is but a message... and a very fragile one... a gift that must be preserved through careful diligence and attentiveness—” “Yes. I-I get that. But... I-I mean why?” Rainbow's eyes narrowed. “If you don't mind me asking. Why is it so fragile?” “If everything was simply given to us—with no expectations whatsoever—then where would one find retribution?” “Yeah... sure...” Rainbow shrugged. “But... what does that mean, exactly? What makes the Reed so fragile, exactly?” “These are all such fantastic questions, Rainbow Dash,” Kyron said with a slight chuckle. “It delights me to see a pony with such ardent curiosity and interest.” “Do you... not get many ponies asking as much as I am?” Kyron slowly shook his head. “Sadly, no. Your enthusiasm is rarely matched by those who infrequently visit us. For that reason, I am more than willing to answer you in full.” He pointed at the tapestry. “The Reed grows on its own, empowered by the power of Verlaxion. There can simply be no other impetus.” He took a deep breath. “That being said, it became quite apparent to the first pilgrims early on that the blessed shoots... had to be tended to quite thoroughly.” “Why...?” Rainbow blinked. “Would they fall apart?” “Not by sheer weather or natural elements alone,” Kyron said, shaking his head. “But sin...” His brow furrowed. “Malevolence... violence... and all the unkind factors of this world...” He waved his hoof again. “...they've threatened to undo Verlaxion's gift constantly.” Rainbow gulped. “So, in other words... ponies.” “It took many trials and tribulations before we came to a place of understanding—concerning our role amidst the Holy Reed of the Quade,” Kyron said. “A long time ago, before Verlaxion even inspired us to pen the Word of Reed, our forbearers were quite susceptible to sin and other vices themselves. Several times, the original pilgrims backslid, denying everything they had come to discover. By the third generation, the shadow of Luminar's plight had nearly become a ghostly wasteland, like it was when the first westward clerics discovered it. It was during this time that a couple of foolish souls decided to... harvest some of the Reed.” Kyron gulped hard. “In an effort to build a raft that would take them back to Rohbredden.” “We call them the Damnable Seven,” Sonikah added with a sickening shudder. “Quite right, my child,” Kyron remarked. He then turned towards Rainbow Dash again, his expression sickeningly pale. “These... abhorrent hypocrites severed the foundation of countless shoots. This very canyon—Rainbow Dash—was once a veritable forest of the Goddess' holy blessing. It was only after the fourth day of unthinkable violence that a member of their party—a young cleric by the name of Kyron—realized the consequences of their actions. He defected from the other six, then established a shrine around the last remaining shoots of the Reed. Through humility, piety, and repentence, Kyron the First established what we now know as the Blessed Sanctuary of the Foals of Verlaxion.” Sonikah smiled proudly. “Ever since then, 'Kyron' has been the annointed name of the pony who is chosen to lead us in our further exaltation of the Reed.” “I had a different name before this one,” Kyron said with a calm smile. “And before that, an even different name. The only thing that remains solid—Rainbow Dash—is our commitment to Verlaxion's glory. With the Reed as our anchor, we throw our souls at her mercy. And throughout the centuries, she has blessed us, and that blessing is evident in the miraculous growth of the Reed. We build off of its shoots... we weave platforms from its string... we revel in its scent and sing praises to its shadow.” “But we only ever create with the glory that the Reed has given us,” Sonikah said. “Even when we remove a platform, we unweave it, so that every piece of the Reed is preserved.” She shook her head. “We shall never... ever repeat the sins of the damnable seven. Instead, we follow the penitent path of Kyron the First, and in preservation and growth we find our purpose.” “That's... pretty boss, actually.” Rainbow gulped. “Still... uh... about those seven jerk-faces.” “Mmmmm...” Kyron stifled a chuckle. “You wish to know more about them? I do not blame you. We do best to understand past fools so that we can promote future heroes.” “Well... I'm not so curious about them... but about what they did.” Rainbow narrowed her eyes. “The parts of the Reed that they cut up? Where did it all go? I mean... where they put that stuff?” Kyron and Sonikah hung their heads. Rainbow blinked. “...sore subject?” “Alas, it all fell into shadow,” Sonikah murmured. “Buried along with their sins... with our sins.” “But... I thought the Reed was supposed to be holy'n'stuff.” “Indeed, it is,” Kyron remarked. “Very much so.” “Then... how come the first reformed ponies following the original Kyron didn't—like—go diving deep into the Quade to recover this stuff?” “Because Verlaxion's glory had been lost forever from it.” “Huh?” Kyron raised his head, his expression long and melancholic. “You must understand, dear child, that once the Reed has been damaged in any way by sin or malevolence...” “...it dies completely,” Sonikah said. “The corruption spreads throughout the roots and destroys the very foundation of the Reed. That is why there is no forest of the blessed gift today.” “And that is why we need protectors, from ancient times and onwards,” Kyron explained. “For while our meditation preserves the essence of Verlaxion's glory, it's the likes of humble Menthe and Galloran and those before them who have committed their lives to defending the Reed from any and all wrongdoers.” “The Reed is everything... and everything that extends from it is the manifestation of our communion with Verlaxion,” Sonikah said. “There can be no other like it, for this is where our Goddess decided to reveal her plan of mercy within the Quade.” Rainbow blinked. She bit her lip. “Now, Rainbow Dash...” Kyron took a step forward, smiling. “You have asked us many questions. I would humbly like to ask you one.” He tilted his head to the side. “What made you want to learn so much about the Reed today?” “Uhhhh...” Rainbow Dash gulped. Her eyes darted between Kyron and Sonikah. “I... uhhh...” She smiled. “Eheheh...” Outside a series of wooden shacks, Wildcard and Bard lazily reclined against the edge of the woven platform. With a glint of ruby light, Rainbow Dash shuffled out from the wooden sanctuary. Wildcard looked up. He snapped a metal talon. Bard looked over. “Well, there she is!” Smirking, he adjusted his guitar case and trotted over to meet the mare. “How was Luminard bible study, eh? Heheh...” “It... was...” Rainbow shifted where she stood. “...enlightening?” “Well?” Bard leaned forward, blinking. “How about it, darlin'?” “Uhhhh... how 'bout what?” “What did ya tell him, huh?” He gestured. “What did ya tell Kyron?” “I... told him... that...” Rainbow squirmed. “Yes...?” “... ... ...that I wanna sit down and read the Word of Reed some more!” She leaned back, rubbing the back of her head. “Eheheheheh...” Bard blinked. Wildcard face-talon'd. “So! Uhm...” Rainbow smiled, sweating. “Who's for more sea mangos???”